Display Device

The present disclosure relates to a display device. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a display device capable of changing a curvature of a display panel.

With the development of information society, there has been a growing demand for various types of display devices. In order to meet such demand, various display devices, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), an electro luminescent display (ELD), a vacuum fluorescent display (VFD), an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, and the like, have been developed and used.

An OLED panel can display an image by depositing an organic layer capable of emitting light on a substrate on which a transparent electrode is formed. OLED panels are not only thin, but also have flexible properties. Research has been actively conducted on the structural characteristics of a display device having such an OLED panel.

It is an objective of the present disclosure to solve the above and other problems. It is another objective of the present disclosure to provide a structure that allows the curvature of a display panel to be freely changed.

It is yet another objective of the present disclosure to provide a mechanism that allows the curvature of a display to be freely changed.

According to one aspect of the subject matter described in this application, a display device includes: a flexible display panel; a flexible plate positioned at a rear of the display panel and to which the display panel is coupled; a driving module positioned at a rear of the plate and including a flip frame configured to linearly reciprocate; a wing elongated with a first end coupled to the flip frame and a second end coupled to the rear of the plate, the wing including a pivot shaft disposed adjacent to the first end between the first end and the second end; and a wing bracket to which the pivot shaft is connected, the wing bracket being fixed to the rear of the plate, wherein the driving module includes: a lead screw configured to be rotatable; a driving gear fixed to the lead screw so as to rotate together with the lead screw; a motor configured to provide torque; a gear box configured to transmit the torque provided by the motor to the driving gear; and a moving block configured to move on the lead screw by rotation of the lead screw, and wherein the flip frame has a first side fixed to the wing and a second side pivotably connected to the moving block.

According to at least one of the embodiments of the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a structure that allows the curvature of a display panel to be freely changed.

According to at least one of the embodiments of the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a mechanism that allows the curvature of a display to be freely changed.

Further scope of applicability of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific embodiments such as preferred embodiments of the present disclosure are given by way of example only, since various changes and modifications within the idea and scope of the present disclosure may be clearly understood by those skilled in the art.

Description will now be given in detail according to exemplary embodiments disclosed herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings. For the sake of brief description with reference to the drawings, the same or equivalent components may be denoted by the same reference numbers, and description thereof will not be repeated.

In the following description, a suffix such as “module” and “unit” may be used to refer to elements or components. Use of such a suffix herein is merely intended to facilitate description of the specification, and the suffix itself is not intended to give any special meaning or function. In the present disclosure, that which is well known to one of ordinary skill in the relevant art has generally been omitted for the sake of brevity. The accompanying drawings are used to help easily understand the technical idea of the present disclosure and it should be understood that the idea of the present disclosure is not limited by the accompanying drawings. The idea of the present disclosure should be construed to extend to any alterations, equivalents, and substitutes besides the accompanying drawings.

Although the terms “first”, “second”, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another.

It will be understood that when a component is referred to as being “connected to” or “coupled to” another component, it may be directly connected to or coupled to another component, or intervening components may be present. In contrast, when a component is referred to as being “directly connected to” or “directly coupled to” another component, there are no intervening components present.

As used herein, a singular representation is intended to include a plural representation unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

It will be further understood that the terms “comprises or includes” and/or “has” when used in this specification, specify the presence of a stated feature, number, step, operation, component, element, or combination thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, elements, or combinations thereof.

Hereinafter, a display panel will be described using an organic light emitting diode (OLED) panel as an example, but the display panel applicable to the present disclosure is not limited to the OLED panel.

In the following description, a display device may include a first long side LS, a second long side LSopposite the first long side LS, a first short side SSadjacent to one end of the first long side LSand one end of the second long side LS, and a second short side SSopposite the first short side SS.

Here, an area of the first short side SSmay be referred to as a first side area; an area of the second short side SSmay be referred to as a second side area opposite the first side area; an area of the first long side LSmay be referred to as a third side area that is adjacent to the first side area and the second side area and positioned between the first side area and the second side area; and an area of the second long side LSmay be referred to as a fourth side area that is adjacent to the first side area and the second side area, positioned between the first side area and the second side area, and opposite the third side area.

For ease of explanation, it is illustrated and described that lengths of the first and second long sides LSand LSare greater than lengths of the first and second short sides SSand SS. However, the lengths of the first and second long sides LSand LSmay be substantially equal to the lengths of the first and second short sides SSand SS.

Herein, a first direction DRmay be a direction parallel to the long sides LSand LSof the display device, and a second direction DRmay be a direction parallel to the short sides SSand SSof the display device. A third direction DRmay be a direction perpendicular to the first direction DRand/or the second direction DR.

The first direction DRand the second direction DRmay be collectively referred to as a horizontal direction. The third direction DRmay be referred to as a vertical direction.

A side or a surface on which the display device displays an image may be referred to as a front side or a front surface. When the display device displays an image, a side or a surface at which the image cannot be observed may be referred to as a rear side or a rear surface. When the display device is viewed from the front side or the front surface, the first long side LSmay be referred to as an upper side or an upper surface. Likewise, the second long side LSmay be referred to as a lower side or a lower surface. Likewise, the first short side SSmay be referred to as a left side or a left surface, and the second short side SSmay be referred to as a right side or a right surface.

The first long side LS, the second long side LS, the first short side SS, and the second short side SSmay be referred to as edges of the display device. In addition, points where the first long side LS, the second long side LS, the first short side SS, and the second short side SSmeet one another may be referred to as corners. For example, a point where the first long side LSand the first short side SSmeet may be referred to as a first corner C; a point where the first long side LSand the second short side SSmeet may be referred to as a second corner C; a point where the second short side SSand the second long side LSmeet may be referred to as a third corner C; and a point where the second long side LSand the first short side SSmeet may be referred to as a fourth corner C.

Herein, a direction from the first short side SSto the second short side SSor a direction from the second short side SSto the first short side SSmay be referred to as a left-and-right direction LR. A direction from the first long side LSto the second long side LSor a direction from the second long side LSto the first long side LSmay be referred to as an up-and-down direction UD.

Referring to, a display panelmay be coupled to a plate. The platemay be flexible. The platemay be referred to as a flexible plate, a frame, or a module cover. The display panelmay be disposed on a front side or front surface of the plate. The display panelmay be flexible. For example, the display panelmay be an OLED panel.

The display panelmay be provided on a front surface of a display deviceand may display an image. The display panelmay include a plurality of pixels to output an image in accordance with color, brightness, and chroma of each pixel. The display panelmay generate light corresponding to red, green, or blue color in response to a control signal.

The display devicemay have a variable curvature. The left and right sides of the display devicemay be configured to move forward. For example, when an image is viewed from the front of the display device, the display devicemay be curved concavely. In this case, the platemay be curved with the same curvature as the display panel. Alternatively, the display panelmay be curved corresponding to the curvature of the panel.

Referring to, the platemay be coupled to the rear of the display panel. The platemay support the display panelat the rear of the display panel. The platemay have a shape corresponding to the display panel.

A driving modulemay be coupled to the rear of the plate. A front bracketF, a rear bracketR, and a wing bracket,may be disposed at the rear of the plate. The front bracketF may be coupled or fixed to a rear surface of the plate. The rear bracketR may be disposed at the rear of the front bracketF, may be spaced apart from the front bracketF, and may face the front bracketF.

The wing bracket,may include a bracket frame,and a wing holder,. The bracket frame,may have a quadrangular box shape. The wing holder,may be formed on one side of the bracket frame,. The wing holder,may protrude from one surface of the bracket frame,. The wing holder,may be configured as a pair. A pair of wing holders,may be disposed opposite each other.

There may be a plurality of wing bracketsand. The plurality of wing bracketsandmay include a first wing bracketand a second wing bracket. The first wing bracketmay be coupled or fixed to the front bracketF and/or the rear bracketR, and may be disposed opposite the second wing bracketwith respect to the front bracketF. The second wing bracketmay be coupled or fixed to the front bracketF and/or the rear bracketR.

A wing,may include a blade,, a neck,, and a lever,. For example, the wing,may be made of metal. As another example, the wing,may be made of an aluminum alloy. The blade,may be an elongated plate and may have a rib to ensure rigidity. The lever,and the neck,may be formed at one end of the blade,. The neck,may be disposed between the lever,and the blade,to connect the lever,and the blade,. A width of the neck,may be less than a width of the lever,, and the width of the lever,may be less than a width of the blade,. A pivot shaft,may be formed at the neck,. The pivot shaft,may be inserted into the wing holder,. The wing,may pivot about the pivot shaft,and the wing holder,

A first wingmay be rotatably or pivotably coupled to the first wing bracket, and a second wingmay be rotatably or pivotably coupled to the second wing bracket. The first wingand the second wingmay be symmetric with respect to the driving module.

A sliding mount,may be coupled or fixed to the rear or rear surface of the plate. A first sliding mountmay be positioned adjacent to a left side of the plate, and a second sliding mountmay be positioned adjacent to a right side of the plate. An end of the first wingmay be movably coupled to the first sliding mount. An end of the second wingmay be movably coupled to the second sliding mount.

A flip framemay be disposed between the leverof the first wingand the leverof the second wing, and may be coupled to the leversand. For example, the flip framemay be made of metal. The flip framemay include a first frameand a second frame. For example, the first framemay have a U-shape, and the second framemay have a U-shape. The first frameand the second framemay be pivotably connected to each other. A pivot pinmay pass through the first frameand the second frameto connect the first frameand the second frame. The first framemay pivot in relation to the second frame, and the second framemay pivot in relation to the first frame. The first framemay be fixed or coupled to the leverof the first wing, and the second framemay be fixed or coupled to the leverof the second wing.

A moving blockmay be disposed inside the flip frame. The moving blockmay be disposed between the first frameand the second frameof the flip frame.

A lead screwmay be inserted into the moving block. As the lead screwis rotated, the moving blockmay move on the lead screw. Rotation and reverse rotation of the lead screwmay cause the moving blockto perform a reciprocating motion on the lead screw.

The lead screwmay be coupled to a driving gearand may rotate together with the driving gear. The driving gearmay rotate while facing the rear surface of the plate(see). The lead screwmay be a rotating shaft of the driving gear. A bearing B may be coupled to one end and/or both ends of the lead screw. The lead screwmay rotate with its one end being inserted into a front bearing B and its other end being inserted into a rear bearing B. For example, the lead screwmay be press-fitted into the front bearing B and the rear bearing B.

A motormay be disposed under the moving block. The motormay provide torque. A gear boxmay transmit the torque of the motorto the driving gear.

Referring to, a first gearmay be fixed to a rotating shaftof the motorso as to rotate together with the rotating shaftof the motor. For example, the first gearmay be a worm. A second gearmay mesh with the first gear. For example, the second gearmay be a worm gear.

The first gearand the second gearmay be disposed inside the gear box. A transmission gearmay be disposed outside the gear box. The transmission gearmay be fixed to the rotating shaftof the second gearand may rotate together with the second gear. The transmission gearmay mesh with the driving gear.

The lead screwmay be a rotating shaft of the driving gear. The driving gearmay be fixed to the lead screw. The driving gearmay be coupled to the lead screwby a pin.

Referring to, the lead screwmay include a shaft bodyand a screw. The shaft bodymay be in the shape of an elongated cylinder, and the screwmay be formed on an outer circumferential surface of the shaft body. The moving blockmay include a moving bodyand a sliding block. For example, the moving bodymay be made of metal, and the sliding blockmay be made of a synthetic resin. The sliding blockmay be disposed inside the moving body. The sliding blockmay be screw-coupled to the lead screw.

The lead screwmay be inserted into the sliding block. As the lead screwis rotated, the sliding blockmay move on the lead screw. A clearance may be formed between an inner circumferential surface of the sliding blockand the screwof the lead screw. Accordingly, the moving blockmay be prevented from being caught or locked while moving on the lead screw.

Referring to, the moving bodymay include an outer partand an inner part. The outer partmay define an outer surface of the moving body. The inner partmay be coupled to the inside of the outer part. For example, the outer partmay be a U-shaped metal plate, and the inner partmay be a metal shell having an accommodation space therein. The sliding blockmay be coupled to the inside of the inner part.

The pivot pinmay protrude and extend from the outer partof the moving body. The first frameand the second frameof the flip framemay include holesHandH. The pivot pinmay be inserted into the holeHof the second frameand the holeHof the first frame. A diskmay be disposed between the first frameand the second frame, and the pivot pinmay be inserted into a holeH of the disk. For example, the diskmay be made of a material with high durability and low friction.

An intermediate membermay be disposed between the moving body, the pivot pin, and the flip frame. The intermediate membermay cover an upper surface of the moving bodyand an outer surface of the pivot pin. The intermediate membermay be referred to as a low friction memberor a lubricating member. The intermediate membermay also be referred to as a skin member.

The intermediate membermay include a body portionand a flange portion. The body portionmay have a cylindrical shape. The pivot pinmay be inserted into the body portion. The body portionmay be in contact with the outer surface of the pivot pin, and the flange portionmay be in contact with the upper surface of the moving body. The intermediate membermay be made of a synthetic resin with low friction. The intermediate membermay be made of a low-friction material. For example, the intermediate membermay be made of POM acetal homopolymer. The first frameand the second frameof the flip framemay move about the pivot pinwhile making contact with or rubbing against the intermediate member.

The intermediate membermay fill a gap between the pivot pinand the holeHof the first frameof the flip frame. The intermediate membermay fill a gap between the pivot pinand the holeHof the second frameof the flip frame. The second frameof the flip framemay be placed on the intermediate member. Accordingly, the pivot pinmay transmit force to the flip framewithout causing noise or vibration.

Referring to, when the lead screwis rotated, the moving blockand the flip framemay move on the lead screw. The flip framemay reciprocate in a longitudinal direction of the lead screw. The movement of the flip framemay cause the first wingand/or the second wingto pivot about the pivot shaftP,P.